GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT CANUCKS
Feb 18, 2023SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (19-25-0-4) vs. ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (29-16-2-2)
SAT, FEB. 18 | 7:00 P.M. | Abbotsford Centre | Abbotsford, BC
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Back in BC: After closing out its five-game homestand with a 4-3 overtime win against the Ontario Reign on Wednesday, snapping a five-game skid, the Barracuda hit the road on Saturday in Abbotsford for the first game of a four-game road trip and the first of two against the Canucks over the next three days to wrap up the eight-game season series. The Barracuda dropped consecutive contests versus Abby at home on Feb. 4 and 5 by a score of 3-2 and are 1-5 against the Canucks this season and 0-2 at the Abbotsford Centre.
About Abbotsford: The Canucks enter Friday coming off a 4-2 win in Calgary against the Wranglers on Wednesday and have wins in six of its last seven. Only the Coachella Valley Firebirds (.806) have a better home winning percentage than Abbotsford (.717), who have picked up victories in its last two games at home and are 6-2-1-1 in its last 10. At home, the Canucks are second in the AHL in goals for (3.95), T-first in goals against (2.47), and have the best +/- (+34) in the AHL. In addition, Abbotsford has the best winning percentage in the league when scoring first (49 GP, 21 GF, 17-2-0-2=.857) and have a record of 15-1-0-1 when leading after a period and are 20-0-0-1 when carrying a lead after two periods. The Canucks rank eighth (3.47) in the league in goals for, 13th in goals against (2.92), ninth in shots for (31.27), and second in shots against (27.47). Since beginning the season with a 7-7-1-1 (.500) through its first 16 games, the Canucks have gone 22-9-1-1 (.697) in its last 33 games and sit a point ahead of the Colorado Eagles for the third spot in the Pacific Division.
Last Time Out: The Barracuda jumped out to a two-goal lead on Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena, only to fall behind by a goal in the third, before tying the score and winning 4-3 in overtime versus the Ontario Reign. In the process, the Cuda snapped a five-game skid (0-4-0-1) and now have points in consecutive games. In the win, Danil Gushchin scored the first and final goals of the contest, and Kyle Criscuolo and CJ Suess also netted tallies, while Strauss Mann collected the W by making 23 saves. The Barracuda finished the game with 41 shots.
Last Meeting: The Barracuda were dealt back-to-back 3-2 losses to the Abbotsford Canucks earlier this month on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4. In the most recent matchup, on Feb. 4, Derrick Pouliot opened the scoring, marking the third-consecutive game in which the Barracuda scored the first goal of the game against the Canucks, and the fourth time in the six meetings, but Tristen Nielsen tied the game just 30 seconds into the second before Kyle Criscuolo gave back the Barracuda its lead, only to have Linus Karlsson and Vincent Arseneau tally in what would turn out to be the difference. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves to improve to 4-0 against the Cuda this season.
About the Barracuda: San Jose enters Saturday two points behind the Bakersfield Condors for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, having played one additional game. The Barracuda are 0-2 at the Abbotsford Centre this season and 2-4-0 all-time. On the road this year, SJ is 7-12-0-2 and 2-6-0-2 in its last 10. After Saturday, the Barracuda will have 23 more road games remaining on its schedule. San Jose is 30th in the league in goals for (2.60) and 25th in goals against (3.40). Against the Canucks this year, the Barracuda have averaged 2.16 goals for and 4.16 goals against. Each of the last three games have been decided by just a goal. The Cuda are first in the AHL in penalty minutes per game (18.25), T-second in minor penalties (268), and third in times-shorthanded (216).
Willing his Way: Barracuda general manager Joe Will sits at 299 wins in his career as the Sharks’ top affiliate GM. The longtime executive has held the position since the 2013-14 season with the Worcester Sharks. His career record stands at 299-261-40-30 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in 631 games.